Tag: On Location
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Continuing the E3 coverage from last month. Our (semi-) secret agent is back with her photographic documentation from the show floor. Just what we needed for the Gamedae Couch Coverage this year. It even looks like she brought some lovely assistants with her. Thanks for the thinking of and representing Gamedae for the masses, girls. Bask in the memories as we take you through the aisles of the Expo.

Back where it always was, is the newly opened Chinatown Fair. I have known about this niche arcade since I moved to New York City, though I almost never visited. Having an arcade in town didn’t strike me as being all that novel, almost like, “of course” there is an arcade in town. When it abruptly closed last year was when I started paying attention. I was pretty shocked as it is, all but, a landmark in Chinatown.

Well it’s open again, a lot cleaner and brighter than before just a little light on the games. The new focus on younger, more casual players is evident by the layout of the arcade. There is a large touch screen Fruit Ninja machine as you enter. Following that is the service counter and many carnival-esque games like Hoops, Skeeball and the Drop-A-Quarter games. There are kids running around with streams of tickets in their hands hoping to trade in for candy. Almost hidden, in the way back, are a handful of common arcade fighters. I would say the highlight of the arcade is either the full sized dance machines or the air hockey table.

Pictures from the inside after the jump. Chinatown Fair is located at 8 Mott Street in Manhattan.

The sight of unkempt hair, the smell of questionable hygiene practices these are just a few of the sights and sou….errr smells of this years Blizzcon. Unlike most other conventions where a variety of fans gather (comic, video game, television, and movie) at Blizzcon only one type of fan attends, a Blizzard fan. Once a year as October draws to a close the fanboys of Blizzard Entertainment gather in Anaheim.

I have always been a fan of Blizzard from my first serious online addiction (Diablo 2, Starcraft, and Warcraft 3) to my current play of World of Warcraft and eventual crack addiction known as Diablo 3. Blizzard holds themselves to what I feel is the highest standard of game making on the market. They often use the phrase “when it’s ready” when speaking in terms of a release date for their games, not because they aren’t sympathetic to the needs of their fans but because they refuse to release anything other than what they feel is the best game they can make.

The weekend is all fan service for the games they have helped build over the 20+ years of game development. This year was filled with a new WoW expansion (The Mists of Pandaria), a trailer for the Starcraft 2 expansion (Heart of the Swarm), as well as more Diablo 3 news and a surprise look at the Starcraft DotA mod (Defense of the Ancients) all of which where playable at this years Blizzcon.

The games aren’t the only thing at the convention though; they have a costume contest to award the devoted fans that decide to cosplay for the event. They hold Q&A panels for all of their franchises, tournaments are held for the elite players to test their skills, and a dance contest for those who want to make absolute fools of themselves.

Under the fold are pictures from inside the convention as well as a few pictures from INSIDE Blizzard HQ in Irvine (Thanks to my friend Chris for the hookup) and some after party pictures as well. I was actually able to speak to and take pictures with some of Blizzards game designers (I love you Chris Metzen).

Blizzard HQ-Irvine, CA

Moonkin Cosplay

Jeff and I in front of the Archangel Tyrael

Night Elf Druid Cosplay

When World of Warcraft meets Minecraft

Tom Chilton-Lead Designer for World of Warcraft

Wyatt Cheng-Lead Technical Designer for Diablo 3

Chris Metzen-Vice President of Creative Development for Blizzard

The banners in front of the Anaheim Convention Center were compensating for something

Jeff, Chris and myself as we leave Blizzcon for the weekend

I may have drank too much at one of the after parties cause I don’t remember this…

Base of the statue in front Blizzard HQ

Chris and myself in front of the famous Orc statue at the Blizzard HQ

Starcraft 2 matches were played all weekend

Troll Shaman Cosplay

Maieve Cosplay

The fan signature wall inside Blizzcon

My character and server name along with some guildies

I bumped into a member of Paragon the #1 World of Warcraft guild in the world

Samewise Didier-Art Director for Blizzard

Sam and I drink it up at a Blizzcon after party

My single favorite moment at Blizzcon, I don’t even need to explain why

You are not alone. There are 105,000 people just like you and unless your name is Felicia Day you’re pushing through the crowd to get a good look around. Not that anyone minds all that much, every fan boy and girl within driving distance is here to gawk, learn and buy just about everything comic (and video game) related. Come for the big reveals or the niche collectables.

I’m emphasizing the crowd here. The large swarms of people are unkempt, dressed funny and in the way but that’s Comic Con and that’s how it goes. Luckily, those fans that engage in cosplay provide as much eye candy as at the featured displays. If I were to complain about something, I do believe I spied a lot of return cosplay costumes. Is there a term for this reuse of a costume? Respun… replay… whatev.

Under the fold, please enjoy some pics from most of the video game displays. Shout outs go to Rockstar Games with their cool GTA III The Aniversary stickers and to Transformers Universe for the make your own transformer picture booth. Oh and fuck you Felicia, a guy can’t even get into the Dragon Age panel anymore. (JK your great).

Located in a quaint shopping center next to a grocery store is a little bit of old school heaven. There are not that many arcades left, especially one that has been open for 37 years. Contrary to it’s name this isn’t really a “family” place. Family Fun Arcade may be a little run down, dark and a bit intimidating but it’s set up perfectly for fighting games. In fact, most of the arcade machines are Street Fighter IV and SF Thirdstrike machines. It has Xbox Live stations with a LAN set up for 2 dollars per half hour. Marvel Vs Capcom 3 is set up on another Xbox machine with an over-sized projector screen, cozy chairs and dual fighting sticks. A DDR machine still cranks in the way back. The machines take quarters rather than those darn tokens. It is open really late and is a practice space for upcoming and veteran professional players. If you find yourself in the valley this is arcade of choice for serious gamers. Hit the jump for a peek inside.